Sex assault allegation shadows PC on trip to NCAA tournament

WARWICK, R.I. — The Providence Friars’ first journey to the NCAA Tournament in 10 years began Wednesday morning with a major distraction as they climbed aboard their charter flight to San Antonio.

Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer kevinmcnamara33

WARWICK, R.I. — The Providence Friars’ first journey to the NCAA Tournament in 10 years began Wednesday morning with a major distraction as they climbed aboard their charter flight to San Antonio.

The Friars will play Friday against the North Carolina Tar Heels at 7:20 p.m. But as they prepare, they must deal with reports that Providence police are now investigating a claim by a female student at PC who alleges she was sexually assaulted in November by two members of the basketball team.

The Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday that the alleged incident police are investigating involves Rodney Bullock and Brandon Austin. PC suspended Bullock and Austin for the season back in December, citing an unspecified violation of the college’s Code of Conduct. Bullock remains on the team and practices with the Friars, but Austin transferred to the University of Oregon in January.

At the time of the suspension, PC would not disclose any details of what transgression took place, citing federal student privacy laws. The Providence Journal reported then that neither the Rhode Island State Police or the Providence police were asked to investigate any complaints against Austin or Bullock since they arrived on campus in August.

On Wednesday, Providence Police Maj. David Lapatin told The Providence Journal that a woman, 18, came to police on March 6 to report an assault that she said happened on campus. She alleges that two Providence College students sexually assaulted her on Nov. 2 into the early hours of Nov. 3.

The woman is also a student and knows the players, Lapatin said.

She spoke with Providence Detective Christopher Rotella on March 6, after she called for an appointment to file a formal police report. She gave a detailed statement to Rotella on March 6 and met with him on March 18 (yesterday) for an audio statement.

Lapatin said the investigation is in the early stages, but Providence College has begun to turn over some of its material to police. He declined further comment on the allegations.

PC’s players, coaches, cheerleaders and band are to leave T.F. Green Airport at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The team will practice in San Antonio later today and then meet with the press and hold a light practice on Thursday at the AT&T Center, the home of the San Antonio Spurs.

PC has been assigned a hotel on San Antonio’s Riverwalk. The school has 350 tickets that it is selling to students, fans and alumni, many of whom will be traveling to Texas in the next two days.